Pakistan summons Afghan envoy after 15 officers killed in Bannu suicide attack
Pakistan on Monday issued a formal demarche to Afghanistan and summoned the Afghan Chargé d'Affaires following a devastating suicide attack in Bannu, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, that killed at least 15 police personnel. The Foreign Office held Kabul accountable for allowing militant networks to operate from Afghan soil, marking one of the sharpest diplomatic rebukes Pakistan has issued to Afghanistan in recent months.
The attack, targeting law enforcement in Bannu district, underscores the persistent threat posed by cross-border terrorism along Pakistan's western frontier. Security officials confirmed the suicide bomber struck a police installation, causing significant casualties among personnel deployed in the region.
Islamabad's decision to summon the Afghan envoy signals a significant escalation in diplomatic pressure on the Taliban-led government in Kabul. Pakistan has repeatedly demanded that Afghan authorities dismantle sanctuaries used by the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan and affiliated groups operating from Afghan territory.
The demarche follows a pattern of intensifying Pakistani frustration with Kabul's perceived inaction against militant infrastructure. Senior foreign ministry officials conveyed Pakistan's strong protest and demanded immediate action to prevent future cross-border attacks. The incident will likely further strain already fraught Pakistan-Afghanistan relations.
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